Topical Bible: Natural Death: Regard, As at Hand

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In the biblical context, the concept of natural death is often regarded as an inevitable part of the human experience, a transition from earthly life to eternity. The Scriptures provide numerous references that encourage believers to live with the awareness that death is always at hand, urging them to live righteously and in accordance with God's will.

Awareness of Mortality

The Bible frequently reminds believers of the brevity and uncertainty of life. In James 4:14 , it is written, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." This verse underscores the transient nature of human existence and the importance of living with an eternal perspective.

Preparation for Death

The awareness of death's imminence is intended to inspire a life of preparedness and spiritual vigilance. In Psalm 90:12 , the psalmist prays, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." This plea highlights the need for wisdom in recognizing the limited time available and the importance of using it wisely in service to God.

Living in Light of Eternity

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often speaks of living with the end in mind. In Philippians 1:21 , he declares, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." This statement reflects the Christian belief that death is not to be feared but is a gain, as it brings the believer into the presence of Christ. Paul’s perspective encourages believers to live fully for Christ, knowing that death is merely a passage to eternal life.

The Certainty of Death

Ecclesiastes 3:2 states, "a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot." This verse acknowledges the certainty of death as part of the divine order established by God. It serves as a reminder that life on earth is temporary and that each person has an appointed time.

Encouragement to Righteous Living

The awareness of death's proximity is also a call to holiness and righteous living. In 2 Peter 3:11-12 , believers are exhorted, "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God." This passage encourages Christians to live in a manner that reflects their hope in the Lord's return and the life to come.

Hope Beyond Death

While natural death is regarded as at hand, the Bible offers hope beyond the grave. In John 11:25-26 , Jesus proclaims, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." This promise assures believers of eternal life through faith in Christ, transforming the perspective on death from one of fear to one of hope and anticipation.

In summary, the Bible presents natural death as an ever-present reality, urging believers to live with an awareness of their mortality. This awareness is intended to inspire a life of wisdom, righteousness, and hope in the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 14:1,2
Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 39:4,5
LORD, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 90:9
For all our days are passed away in your wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 1:24
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass wither, and the flower thereof falls away:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Sanctions of Moral Law, Natural and Governmental.
... as an expression of the benevolent regard of the ... and governmental result of sin or
of spiritual death. ... Natural justice demands that God should exhibit as high ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xix sanctions of moral.htm

A Death in the Desert
... and spirit is simply the result of natural law ... our incident teaches us the mystery
that wrapped death to that ancient world, of which we may regard that unknown ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a death in the desert.htm

Sleep a Natural Function as Shown by Other Considerations, and by ...
... Such, therefore, must be both the natural reason and the reasonable nature of sleep.
If you only regard it as the image of death, you initiate faith, you ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xliii sleep a natural function.htm

That I May Refute More Thoroughly These Charges, I Will Show that ...
... I hand over the Tauric fables to their own theatres ... things strangled and that die
a natural death, for no ... of whom you are convinced that they regard with horror ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter ix that i may.htm

Tarry Till I Come.
... what?" Peter understands the prophecy with regard to himself ... and that John did not
die a natural death. ... had its John who was translated without seeing death. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/tarry till i come.htm

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ...
... is significantly noted before anything else, alike in regard to His ... [4806] On the
other hand, a wicked ... honours of those who had died a natural death, and the ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the death and.htm

The True Excellence of Man.
... the angels of God, on the other hand, are wiser ... apprehend the end of each, and not
regard death as an ... so that he is easily able to bear natural death, which is ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter iii the true excellence of.htm

Chrysostom -- Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends
... To be dejected is natural; but to be overcome by ... whether poverty, or sickness, or
untimely death, or calumny ... father was particularly solicitous in regard to them ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/chrysostom excessive grief at.htm

The Ideal Statesman [Footnote: Preached on Occasion of Mr. ...
... more nearly to it than he whose death has taken ... work, upon any religious sentiment,
but in regard to all ... So that whatever natural endowment we start with, it ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture k/the ideal statesman footnote preached.htm

Sleepers at Noonday
... the Apostle is here quoting, without much regard either to ... into the darkness, into
the heavy mass of their natural death. ... 'Stretch out thy hand,' said Christ ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/sleepers at noonday.htm